The Wolfgang Press

Enigmatic, moody, and difficult, Britain’s Wolfgang Press were probably one of the most mercurial talents from the post-punk era, restlessly shifting from gothic noise to dark balladry to eccentric funk; paradoxically, the group was also the 4AD label’s longest tenured designer — actually their stylish recording packages were all of the item of the same developer, Alberto Ricci. Created in London in 1983, the Wolfgang Press comprised vocalist Michael Allen, guitarist Andrew Grey, and keyboardist Tag Cox. Allen and Cox 1st teamed within the group Rema Rema, which also presented Adam & the Ants alum Marco Perroni; after reuniting within the short-lived quartet Mass, the duo recruited Grey, so when the Wolfgang Press released their cacophonous, gloomy debut LP, THE RESPONSIBILITY of Mules, in 1983. An EP trilogy co-produced by Cocteau Twin Robin Guthrie adopted in quick succession: while 1984’s Scarecrow was a lighter, even more streamlined affair, 1985’s Drinking water spotlighted ominously sparse torch tunes, as well as the same year’s Sweatbox explored deconstructionist pop. The Wolfgang Press’ second full-length work, 1986’s TAKING A STAND Straight, incorporated commercial and orchestral affects into the blend, as the Big Sex EP’s “God’s Quantity” provided a soulful support chorus, a harbinger of what to arrive. Certainly, after 1988’s hypnotic Parrot Wood Cage and its own leadoff solitary, “Ruler of Spirit,” introduced solid components of dub, reggae, and R&B, the trio had taken the entire plunge in to the dance world with 1991’s Queer, an idiosyncratic outing admittedly motivated by De La Soul’s landmark 3 Foot High and Increasing; the first solo, a surreal cover from the Randy Newman-penned “Mama EXPLAINED Not to Arrive,” was a strike. 1995’s Funky Small Demons finished the Wolfgang Press’ changeover into white funk; ahead of its release, nevertheless, Cox exited the group’s rates.